It looks like the next chapter in the Jurassic saga may have just revealed its title. The fifth Jurassic World installment, which also marks the eighth film in the long-running dinosaur franchise, is reportedly titled Jurassic World: Liberation.
The name surfaced after several “Liberation” domain names were quietly snapped up online, which is usually how these big studio titles start to leak out into the wild.
Universal hasn’t officially confirmed the title yet, but if this sticks, Jurassic World: Liberation will follow the events of Jurassic World: Rebirth, the 2025 sequel that pulled in a massive $870 million at the global box office. For better or worse, that kind of box office haul guarantees these genetically engineered reptiles aren’t going anywhere.
The new sequel is currently rumored to hit theaters on June 9, 2028. Gareth Edwards is expected to return to direct after stepping in on Rebirth when original helmer David Leitch exited over “creative differences.”
Edwards, whose previous work includes The Creator and Rogue One, seemed like a solid fit for a franchise built on large-scale spectacle and creature chaos.
At the time, I was genuinely excited about Edwards taking the reins. His background in sci-fi and monster movies made him feel like a natural choice for Jurassic World, and I enjoyed what he ended up making. It was much more in line with the original film.
Jurassic World Rebirth was written by David Koepp, and while I liked the film, others felt the script was cobbled together from leftover ideas of previous sequels. There are complaints about how the dialogue lacked energy, and the plot felt overly familiar.
Still, Universal clearly sees plenty of life left in this franchise. The new sequel is expected to once again center on Scarlett Johansson’s covert operations specialist, Zoe Bennett.
Johansson’s schedule could push production into early 2027, though, since she’s booked for back-to-back shoots on The Exorcist: Martyrs and The Batman: Part II in 2026. Jonathan Bailey and Mahershala Ali are also expected to reprise their roles, giving the sequel some serious acting talent to lean on.
There’s no confirmation yet on who’s writing Jurassic World: Liberation, but Koepp could very well return.
Looking at the franchise as a whole, it’s wild to think that it’s been 32 years since Jurassic Park roared into theaters. It’s still the only entry in the series that truly nailed the formula. That film balanced wonder, dread, and character in a way none of the sequels have quite managed.
The Lost World: Jurassic Park didn’t receive a warm welcome when it first hit theaters, but compared to what followed, it has aged better than expected. At least Steven Spielberg was still steering the ship, and even with its uneven execution, it tried to explore darker themes. It remains the most intense chapter of the series.
Every sequel since has tried to replicate the magic of Jurassic Park without fully understanding what made it special. The original thrived on restraint, it built tension instead of blasting the audience with nonstop chaos.
In contrast, the modern installments keep escalating the scale while stripping away depth. The dinosaurs are louder. The set pieces are bigger. The characters feel thinner.
If Edwards returns with something sharper, more focused, and more character-driven, there’s still a chance to steer this franchise back toward something great and meaningful. The ingredients are there. The cast has potential. The world is built.
Now it just needs a story that remembers why audiences fell in love with dinosaurs in the first place.
Source: World of Reel
